Totally agree with katecogs
And I wonder if your gp really understands the treatment
You become a bit of an expert on this especially when you gave sorted yourself out and it's working! But whilst your doing it it's awful and does get a lot worse so you think you have had enough. But it does take time
But everyone's differant
I got a shock when it took me to 6 weeks before I felt better this time round and as I reflect on that, that was just the start of feeling better. Each day I am stronger am now at 13 weeks
In 2013 I started feeling better in 3 weeks. Weird
Am not sure where your upto now but I think you should have stuck it out at 20mg a bit longer
Increasing doses doesn't necessarily work and you often go through the side effects as your body / brain copes with the changes
Whatever you do tho DO NOT just cut back in one go. You will be very ill
You have to reduce VERY slowly
Stay with it they will work ..i was on these 7 years and came off them worst thing I did .
It takes time but there very good .
Wow thank you for posting this. Im few couple weeks on 10 mg going move up to 20 to be at theraputic dose. This gives me hope. The morning dread has lifted tiny bit. I get more anxious an brain foggy at nite.i had that constant all day til i started these. My insommnia is better. I eas taking at nite but mornings better for me. I was only getting 4 hours sleep prior to the cirt. My mind has been in very bad place an the intrusive dark thoughts are getting less. Having no apetite hope that lifts i actually would like gain frw lbs.im sticking with it an praying cime out on other side of this.
20mg is a good dose - you might get some side effects again though for a while, but they'll wear off. I took mine in the morning too, though some people prefer to take it at night.
Yes things do slowly get better. It does take time but worth the wait.
K x
You will!!🤗
I am never quite sure why thy start people on 10mg...and don't just go in at 20 mg to avoid possible feeling rubbish again as you increase.
That morning dread is awful.i look forward to my mornings now
The first time I was on Cit I took them at night so I did that again in January...but the insomisa I had with the anxiety coupled with the side effect meant I wasn't sleeping either and it was worse . I swopped to mornings after two weeks. Things got better sleepwise but it may have been coincidental. Am afraid to revert to pm in case the insomnia comes back...there's nothing worse is there! 😏
Yes..it does take time but stick with it.
People like me posting we're my life saver in both the early days of treatment
😎
Yes it helps tremendously to hear from poeple that are going thro it, been thro it an came thro an are in good place. Really appreciate that you guys encouragement
Thank you, Mark. Your post IS really encouraging...
So good to hear you are feeling better.
I thought the same, I thought that going straight to 40mg wasn't the best thing to do, as I haven't been on 30mg long enough. However since going up to 40, I have seen much more improvement than I had seen on other doses.
I'm still no where near 100% but I'm defiantly starting to get there now. Slowly starting to notice little things. These Past couple of days I've been feeling as though I'm going down hill again, but reading through these posts has made me realise that this is normal and these things will happen! Just got to keep going and get on with it.
I am almost 13 weeks in taking Citalopram, and only just seeing some kind of improvement. Still got a long way to go but hoping this is the start of me getting better!
Well if 40 mg seems to be working for you that's great...just stay there and weather the changes and wait for all the lights to come on🤗
Yes there are ups and downs along the way...I still find at 20 mg that I can have irritation times but I just take a deep breath relax and listen to my meditation tapes
well done 👏
Hi have you had any improvement? I feel the same but on 20mg.
Hi Neil,
How long have you been on them for?
First 2 weeks of taking Citalopram I started off on 10mg and then upped to 20mg for about 6 weeks. Still saw no improvement at all, if anything felt as though I was continueing to get worse.
My doctor told me to up my dose to 30mg and then a week later to 40mg. Been on 40mg for nearly 3 weeks now. I'd say these past couple of weeks I've slowly started to see some improvement. I've even had a few days where I'd say I've actually felt quite good!
I do feel like I'm going down hill again these past few days , but reading through these posts has made me realise that's it's completely normal! Blips and downs are to be expected. Been on citalopram coming up to 12 weeks now and only just started to see some kind of improvement!
How are you feeling now?
Mia x
Hi mia
I was on 10mg for a few years. Then it just stopped working...due to increased stress i think.
I've been on 20mg for just over 4 weeks.
But you will get worse as you make an increase. You have to stick on them quite a while to check their efficacy before you think of increasing again....when you may get worse again! Increasing the dose isn't always the answer . It takes time
i am on week 14 1/2
Had a blip yesterday. I thought goodness hope am not going to revert to base again!
Worked through it . Went to the gym. Meditated was Mindful.....
Hi Kate,
Been on cit for over 12 weeks now. A couple of weeks ago was the first time I've ever felt some improvement, still wasn't great but felt like I was slowly getting somewhere. For the first time whilst taking citalopram.
Now I'm going bad again. Starting to feel awful and have been for a few days. Would you say this is just a blip? I'm just starting to worry because I have been on them for over 12 weeks and the only improvement I have felt was a couple of weeks ago.
I upped my dose to 40mg about 3 weeks ago so would you say I need to wait longer to see if that dose will help? Because I'm starting think this isn't the right medication?? X
Well, it took me 6 months to recover and felt the beginnings around 3-4 months, so I'd say 12 weeks is still early. Throughout my 6 months I had blips all the way through and beyond, which eased over that time ..... so yes, having a blip at 12 weeks is normal.
Lots of people do make the mistake of not waiting long enough and end up hopping from one meds to another, making themselves worse from having to cope with start up side effects and withdrawl. 40mg is also the max dose and doesn't suit everyone - some people finding their side effects don't go away on this dose - but you need to give the dose much longer than 3 weeks.
So yes, expect the blips to still come and treat each one as just part of recovery. Just let them come and go without trying to analyse them too much (hard I know), and you'll find the improvement will return.
You're doing well ..... just keep going and you'll find yourself in calmer waters again soon.
K x
Hi how are you feeling now? You must be about 3 months by now.?
Shane
your posts have helped me a lot. gotten me through some tough times starting Citalopram. I was having good days followed by bad days but I white knuckled it and got through. im on week 8 and had a blip day today but they are for sure less intense than before. I very much look forward to when they are passed because I really want to be able to go do things again with friends and date again. to anyone struggling, be kind to yourself and give yourself a break. realize this will take time, didnt get into this mess in quickly and it wont be quick to get out of. Thanks again Kate
Hi Matt
Hope things are going ok for you still.
Yes blips are a part of the recovery process - you can’t recover without them. Try and let them come and go, passing through each one - they do pass, eventually. Some days / weeks will be worse than others, but this is normal.
Blips should really be looked on as a help not a hinderance. If you were recovering without medicine (acceptance method) then its when these blips crop up that we learn to pass through without paying them much attention, and it teaches your body they’re not important and it slowly loses the fear.
We can still apply this when we take medicine too.
So think of blips as your friend 
Hiya Katecogs
Please could I have the link to the book please.
I’m back in Citalapram for the 3rd time previously I was on 40mg but this time I really don’t want to go to 40mg I want to stay on 20mg. I’ve been on them now 9 weeks now 2 weeks at 10mg 7 weeks at 20mg but I’m still feeling rubbish. I have health anxiety
Sorry to go on I’m just so desperate to feel ‘normal’ x
Hi Kaykay69
There’s a few good links that helps explain about anxiety / nervous illness.
Dr Claire Weekes books - can find most places online.
Paul David book - At Last a Life (he also has a good website)
Samuel Eddy (Youtube) (he’s excellent)! - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0pY4rJH-WVgGXhWa7Sjmng
Vacate Fear (Youtube) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUYnAT4Uvdz46K-RPTEgDuPg
Be patient with the medication, it takes longer than you sometimes realise - but keep on with it. I’ve been on it a few times and each time its worked well.
Do check out the links above - they all follow Claire Weekes method and each are excellent - I think Samuel Eddy is fantastic explaining. Understanding anxiety is part of the healing process and Samuel explains it so well.
You will feel normal again x